We are able to provide a discount because of our high volume of sales, our efficiency of operations, and because we sell to the customer directly online. The minimum discount we provide is 5%, and can be as high as 12%. We also give an additional discount to members of certain organizations or when tour operators or airlines have special promotions.

"Land & Air" travel is when you purchase both the tour and the airfare from the same tour operator. "Land Only" is when you purchase the tour from the Agency, but find your own airfare. They have different discounts because the operators provide us with better discounts for the "Land & Air", and we pass on those discounts directly to the customers.

All tours begin on the same day. However, most tours do include the overnight airplane ride to the destination as the first day of the tour. If you purchase your own air, then you will be expected to meet with your tour group on Day 2, the first day of the actual tour on land. Since USA tours do not have an overnight flight, those tours begin on day 1 for all passengers, regardless of air ticket purchase.

Each person is allowed one "check-in," and one "carry-on." Remember to take all valuables with you as "carry-on", because electronic equipment, cameras, laptops, jewelry, business documents and money are not covered by the airlines' liability, so always carry them aboard with you.

For European tours the airfare is priced out of New York City. However, that does not mean you have to go to New York City. In fact, most of our passengers do not go through New York, many travel through Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Cleveland or other major hubs. For trips to Asia and Australia the prices are usually based out of Los Angeles or San Francisco. For trips to South America they are usually based out of Miami.

If you buy the air ticket from the tour operator and you travel the dates the tour starts and ends, then your air transfers are included. If you buy the air ticket from the operator and you travel before and return after the tour starts and ends, then you will have to find your own transfer. Once you get to the airport of your destination please look for the uniformed representative of the travel company. They will direct you to a bus to transfer you to the hotel. Many operators have hours of operation for the transfers. If you arrive after the hours of operation, you will need to find your own transportation. If you do have the transfers arranged in advance and you cannot find the company representative, take a taxi to the hotel and keep the receipt. Make sure you go to the taxi stand. Do not take a taxi from anywhere in the airport. Those taxis are not registered taxis, they do not give receipts. Which means you will not be reimbursed for your trip. In addition, unregistered taxis charge 3 or 4 times as much as the registered taxis. Thus, you may spend over $100 for which you will not be reimbursed.

Certainly you can go on a tour. We have many handicapped passengers. It is very important that you inform your agent about your particular condition. Some tour operators reserve the right to refuse service to a handicapped passenger that does not inform the operator in advanced of their medical condition. This way the tour director will be prepared to assist you in any way necessary. Passengers traveling with a wheelchair must have a person able to assist them with the storage and set up of the wheelchair. Neither the tour director nor the bus driver is allowed to handle a wheelchair.

A large percentage of our travelers are single. Most tour companies require the single person to pay an additional supplement for the single room. They do not match single people together as roommates. A few companies, such as Cosmos and Contiki, do match single people together of the same gender. For those companies you need to let your agent know that you wish to share a room. The tour director will match the single people together. If you get lucky and are the odd person out, you will get a single room for yourself.

Each tour operator has different requirements for children. Globus and Cosmos will not accept children under 8 years on the escorted tours. Trafalgar has a set age limit of 5 years of age. CIE Tours' age limit is 10 years. Independent city stays have no age limit.

Depending on your country of citizenship, and the countries you are visiting, you may or may not require one or more VISA's. Securing VISA's is the responsibility of tour participants. To check if you will need a VISA for your trip, you may call the embassy or consulate of the country or countries where you will be traveling.

Cruises Help

It is very important that the names you use to book are the same names that appear on your passport or other proof of citizenship. If you are not sure of the exact spelling of any of the names as they appear on your passport or other proof of citizenship, please verify the information before booking your vacation cruise or tour.

There are several ways that you will know this information. Your confirmation letter will contain this information. Also, you can call our travel consultants and they will be happy to assist you with any such question.

The cruise price does not include organized shore excursions, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, shopping, casino gaming, gratuities, spas, medical services, and other such expenses aboard your cruise. Please note that what is included varies by cruise line. Some cruise lines include beverages for example. Please ask our tour consultants what is included in your particular cruise.

Yes, the cruise itineraries may change due to reasons such as inclement weather or unforeseen events. Your safety is the number one concern aboard and all precautions necessary will be taken in order to ensure passenger safety, including changing itineraries. Please note that when itineraries do change, the ship staff will do their best to substitute any missed port with an alternative destination.

For European tours the airfare is priced out of New York City. However, that does not mean you have to go to New York City. In fact, most of our passengers do not go through New York, many travel through Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Cleveland or other major hubs. For trips to Asia and Australia the prices are usually based out of Los Angeles or San Francisco. For trips to South America they are usually based out of Miami.

If you buy the air ticket from the tour operator and you travel the dates the tour starts and ends, then your air transfers are included. If you buy the air ticket from the operator and you travel before and return after the tour starts and ends, then you will have to find your own transfer. Once you get to the airport of your destination please look for the uniformed representative of the travel company. They will direct you to a bus to transfer you to the hotel. Many operators have hours of operation for the transfers. If you arrive after the hours of operation, you will need to find your own transportation. If you do have the transfers arranged in advance and you cannot find the company representative, take a taxi to the hotel and keep the receipt. Make sure you go to the taxi stand. Do not take a taxi from anywhere in the airport. Those taxis are not registered taxis, they do not give receipts. Which means you will not be reimbursed for your trip. In addition, unregistered taxis charge 3 or 4 times as much as the registered taxis. Thus, you may spend over $100 for which you will not be reimbursed.

Certainly you can go on a tour. We have many handicapped passengers. It is very important that you inform your agent about your particular condition. Some tour operators reserve the right to refuse service to a handicapped passenger that does not inform the operator in advanced of their medical condition. This way the tour director will be prepared to assist you in any way necessary. Passengers traveling with a wheelchair must have a person able to assist them with the storage and set up of the wheelchair. Neither the tour director nor the bus driver is allowed to handle a wheelchair.

A large percentage of our travelers are single. Most tour companies require the single person to pay an additional supplement for the single room. They do not match single people together as roommates. A few companies, such as Cosmos and Contiki, do match single people together of the same gender. For those companies you need to let your agent know that you wish to share a room. The tour director will match the single people together. If you get lucky and are the odd person out, you will get a single room for yourself.

Each tour operator has different requirements for children. Globus and Cosmos will not accept children under 8 years on the escorted tours. Trafalgar has a set age limit of 5 years of age. CIE Tours' age limit is 10 years. Independent city stays have no age limit.

Depending on your country of citizenship, and the countries you are visiting, you may or may not require one or more VISA's. Securing VISA's is the responsibility of tour participants. To check if you will need a VISA for your trip, you may call the embassy or consulate of the country or countries where you will be traveling.

River Cruise Help

It is very important that the names you use to book are the same names that appear on your passport or other proof of citizenship. If you are not sure of the exact spelling of any of the names as they appear on your passport or other proof of citizenship, please verify the information before booking your vacation cruise or tour.

There are several ways that you will know this information. Your confirmation letter will contain this information. Also, you can call our travel consultants and they will be happy to assist you with any such question.

The river cruise price does not include organized shore excursions, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, shopping, casino gaming, gratuities, spas, medical services, and other such expenses aboard your river cruise. Please note that what is included varies by river cruise line. Some river cruise lines include beverages for example. Please ask our tour consultants what is included in your particular cruise.

Yes, the river cruise itineraries may change due to reasons such as inclement weather or unforeseen events. Your safety is the number one concern aboard and all precautions necessary will be taken in order to ensure passenger safety, including changing itineraries. Please note that when itineraries do change, the ship staff will do their best to substitute any missed port with an alternative destination.

If you buy the air ticket from the tour operator and you travel the dates the tour starts and ends, then your air transfers are included. If you buy the air ticket from the operator and you travel before and return after the tour starts and ends, then you will have to find your own transfer. Once you get to the airport of your destination please look for the uniformed representative of the travel company. They will direct you to a bus to transfer you to the hotel. Many operators have hours of operation for the transfers. If you arrive after the hours of operation, you will need to find your own transportation. If you do have the transfers arranged in advance and you cannot find the company representative, take a taxi to the hotel and keep the receipt. Make sure you go to the taxi stand. Do not take a taxi from anywhere in the airport. Those taxis are not registered taxis, they do not give receipts. Which means you will not be reimbursed for your trip. In addition, unregistered taxis charge 3 or 4 times as much as the registered taxis. Thus, you may spend over $100 for which you will not be reimbursed.

Certainly you can go on a river cruise. We have many handicapped passengers. It is very important that you inform your agent about your particular condition. Some tour operators reserve the right to refuse service to a handicapped passenger that does not inform the operator in advanced of their medical condition. This way the tour director will be prepared to assist you in any way necessary. Passengers traveling with a wheelchair must have a person able to assist them with the storage and set up of the wheelchair. Neither the tour director nor the bus driver is allowed to handle a wheelchair.

A large percentage of our travelers are single. Most river cruise companies require the single person to pay an additional supplement for the single room. They do not match single people together as roommates. For some companies you need to let your agent know that you wish to share a room. The river cruise director will match the single people together. If you get lucky and are the odd person out, you will get a single room for yourself.

Depending on your country of citizenship, and the countries you are visiting, you may or may not require one or more VISA's. Securing VISA's is the responsibility of tour participants. To check if you will need a VISA for your trip, you may call the embassy or consulate of the country or countries where you will be traveling.

General Travel Questions

Download our free vacation "Know Before You Go" travel preparation check list to help you in your preparations for your upcoming adventure. This document will give you a "to do list" of tasks to complete to ensure your trip is a success. Download Here.

For land-based tours, most of our travel partners prepare documents at about 14-21 days prior to their program's departure. When sent directly to you, these documents usually arrive about 4-5 days later. For those suppliers who send documents to our offices for transshipment add another 5-7 days to the delivery time. If your plans involve an early departure or a combination of programs that may create difficulties for you in receiving documents, simply ask your tour consultant to request early document delivery or an alternative delivery system, such as the PDF file format. There may be a fee involved for early documents or express delivery services. Your consultant will be able to find this information for you. And for those customers who reside outside the continental states of the US, most of our travel partners provide a PDF as a standard form of travel documentation. Rest assured that we and our travel partners will do everything necessary to ensure you receive your required documentation in advance of your departure.

For river cruise customers, the documents are typically prepared at 21 days prior to departure, in some cases a bit earlier. The same general guidelines apply for river cruising guests as for our land tour guests. IMPORTANT NOTE FOR LAND TOUR AND RIVER CRUISE CUSTOMERS: There are many programs offered by the tour or river cruising travel partner in which travel is included on ocean going vessels, ferry services or internal flying. Most of these programs require either passport details, copies of passports, completed visa pages, international air ticket numbers or combinations of all of these. You should be made aware of these requirements by your consultant early in the process and the information should be provided as early as it is reasonably available. The tour and river cruise companies will not issue tour documents or provide services when this information has not been made available by the guest.

For our ocean cruise guests, the document management system has evolved so that the traditional ticket booklets that contained contracts of carriage, excursion details, ticket coupons, etc., are almost exclusively produced in a PDF format. Typically the ticket booklets are produced after two conditions are met: first, that the online registration, which is required for most mainstream cruise lines, must be completed; second, the final payment must have been completed. The cruise tickets and associated documents are then available for customers to manage directly within the cruise line systems. Your cruise counselor will be able to help you navigate this portion of your cruise experience.

Your final payment date is presented on the email you received confirming the booking of your trip. If you are unable to locate that email (or other emails that may have that information) but have your AffordableTours.Com booking number, you can easily find the information on our website. Simply log on to the booking access section of our system at My.AffordableTours.Com. You will need to have a valid six-digit AffordableTours.Com booking number and the last name of one of the guests in order to access any booking.

Note: Each tour, river cruise or ocean cruise will always have at least two booking numbers - one provided for your AffordableTours.Com booking (always six digits) and the other referencing the travel partner's confirmation or reservation reference number. Once you have access to the booking, you can easily display any section of the booking including the important travel and payment dates, package details, flights, payment history and much more.

We always strive to offer you the most complete array of services available and that includes, whenever possible, assisting with your requests for advance seats on the airline(s) booked by us (or our travel partners) on your behalf. There are some very important considerations, so to best answer that question, please take note of these conditions and caveats.

Airlines may or may not offer advance seats as a courtesy any longer. We can no longer assume that all carriers will do so. Even some of our traditional service hold-outs in international flying will only offer seats on a fee basis. Those fees can range from $49 to hundreds of dollars for long haul seating. The seat location and type will affect the segment price. Frequently, short-haul flights within Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and Australia do not offer advance seats or offer them only on a paid basis. However, in every case, when complimentary seat assignment options are offered and available, we will be happy to make requests for you.

We are unable to guarantee specific seat types or locations at any time and under any circumstance. Simply put: neither AffordableTours.Com nor the tour or cruise partner with whom you are booked can exercise control over the air carrier operations. Any number of things may inhibit the carrier's ability to honor seat requests (change of aircraft type or configuration, internal preference for seating families on day of flight, failure of computer equipment to manage check-in functions, etc.)

We want to give you the best service possible and we don't feel we can do that by not disclosing the ways in which we can do that effectively and, most importantly, with complete integrity. Yes, we will be happy to assist with your seat requests but we hope you understand the limitations within which we can offer that service.

Yes. In most cases, the airline confirmation, or record locator as it is commonly called, is provided in the flight details section of your Booking Summary email or in a separate display area of your booking at "My.AffordableTours.Com". When the air carrier information is presented on your booking, we automatically provide you with the telephone numbers and web addresses for the carriers indicated as the "booked" airlines. If you do not have flight details present but you do have air booked through AffordableTours.Com, check with your travel consultant for availability. Sometimes the confirmation details are not immediately available at the time of initial payment. Please note also this will apply only to the flight details used to join the tour or cruise and not to any internal flight segments that may be a part of the tour or cruise program.

Dress codes per se have become less visible in the planning literature. However, there are still some general guidelines and some that are quite specific. Your tour or cruise company documents and planning information will be your starting guide but their information will be limited, for the most part, to their service provisions and requirements. Many of the reasons for selecting and taking along specific types of clothing are driven more by the itinerary and sightseeing/entertainment options. Gentlemen are still required to wear a tie and jacket in the Monte Carlo Casino "proper" and ladies should be prepared to wear longer sleeves when visiting the Vatican. The best advice is to let guidebooks for the region give you clues about how to dress for your trip and not for your trip provider. Ocean cruise customers may find it advantageous to think ahead to the dining venues aboard ship. The options on board can range from the ultra-casual to jackets recommended. The cruise line may not deny you a meal for wearing shorts but may well have strict conditions about where you might enjoy that meal while wearing them. If there are specific dress codes, they will be very clearly spelled out. And, should you have trouble navigating this information, your agent is only a phone call or email away. Remember also that seasons and regional norms may also dictate what you consider the "code" particularly when comparing a week's skiing in Kitzbuehl vs. a week on the French Riviera in June.

Electrical plugs and outlets differ throughout the world so you'll need a universal travel adaptor suitable for the countries you are traveling to in order to use any mobile devices. Electrical currents also vary throughout the world and we suggest you carry a converter for any electronics that are not dual voltage in order to prevent them being damaged.

Now that airlines have changed the rules for packing, it can become expensive to pack enough for vacations lasting longer than a week. Even that can be difficult when the itinerary or main attraction requires several types of clothing. Even so, there are some standard considerations that may help in your planning:

On tour itineraries that offer at least a 2 night stay in one or more of the hotels, you may wish to take advantage of the hotel cleaning services. Although not all hotels will offer these services, most 4 star and higher will offer some version of the service in order to keep their star ratings. The fees can vary greatly so it's a good idea to check the websites of the hotels to see how the services are managed.

For river cruise customers, the prevailing wisdom it to use the services offered by the ship for dry cleaning. On a few lines, there are ships that offer self-service laundry facilities for a small fee. Most websites for the cruise line have details about the facilities aboard each of the vessels, including the type of laundry facilities available onboard.

Ocean cruise customers will generally have access to the full range of laundry services. Some lines that specialize in longer itineraries will have both ship services and self-service laundry facilities. Depending on the stateroom category or loyalty program level, some of these services will be offered free of charge. A visit to the cruise line website should answer any of those questions and, as always, your cruise consultant is happy to help.

On a tour, a cell phone is often the easiest way to communicate both locally and with others back home. �Bill shock' is becoming increasingly common for international travelers who are arriving home from their trip to a hefty cell phone bill that can be as much as the actual trip! Before leaving on your trip, consider these options to avoid returning home to an expensive phone bill:

Check international calling and text rates, disable data roaming and consider a prepaid service designed for international travelers. An international cell phone and prepaid SIM card lets you stay connected and in touch with family and friends, and control your costs at the same time.

Wi-Fi services are becoming increasingly available on tour coaches, river boats and in public areas of hotels (sometimes even in-room) without additional charges. When these are available, regular email or "face-time" conversations can be a real cost saver.

On ocean cruises, telephone service can be quite expensive and the service may be spotty. However, as with river cruise and land tour vacations, Wi-Fi services are also becoming the standard though access may come with a fee. The cruise line website will provide specifics on the fee, normally expressed in minutes. Like with laundry services, some stateroom categories and loyalty program benefit levels will offer a generous amount of "Wi-Fi Time", access to the ship's internet caf� or both.

Transfer services, getting from and to airports, ship terminals or train stations, is an important part of the planning process and, left until the last minute, can be an expensive proposition. Where you are and how you travel can make a big difference. Sometimes, the decision to spend more on the actual product inclusions may save money because of very high transportation costs otherwise associated. Again, the nature of transfer services and assumptions differ by product type. Here are some standard that might clarify the best approach to answering the question and help you plan your own options. Keep in mind that we can, almost without exception, set up a service with a private company even when the primary provider does not offer the service.

Our land tour partners are fairly evenly split on whether airport transfer services are included. A standard, even among those that do offer the services on a complimentary basis, is that the services are assumed to be valid only on the first arrival day scheduled for the tour program and the last day of the tour. Some will offer the services on a complimentary basis, even when airfare is purchased independently and some will include the service only when the airfare is purchased in conjunction with their programs. Additional days, even when purchased through the primary travel partner, are usually not included in the complimentary transfer consideration. In addition, some "included" transfers may only operate within very specific time windows so the complimentary service may no longer be applicable due to your flight arrival or departure schedule. While there are some notable exceptions to these standards, they should be considered the "nice surprise" rather than the expectation. Your travel consultant should let you know during the confirmation stages what your date considerations and timing parameters should be in making your plans.

River cruise programs, again with a few notable exceptions, do not include airport transfer services unless airfare is purchased as part of the package and, even then, may carry specific restrictions for day of arrival and place of arrival. Some river cruise lines may offer transfer services only if an entire program is taken that includes land-based options. Again, even in these circumstances, your AffordableTours.Com cruise consultant may be able to offer auxiliary services to meet the needs of getting you from an airport to the ship or hotel required.

Ocean cruises very rarely include transfer services on a complimentary basis. The distances from many ports to the nearest city with air services can be longer and more expensive that can be effectively included in cruise fares. However, all major cruise lines do offer the service, sometimes with limited inventory, for guests arriving and departing by air. As with all our products, you may also rely on your AffordableTours.Com cruise consultant to offer you this option and to assist with third party services if it might be a better fit with your travel plans.

What about arrivals by ship? By train? It is extremely rare for a travel partner to offer services for transport other than the airport. However, your AfordableTours.Com consultant may be able to offer you very good private or shared services that match your needs. This can be especially helpful when combining differing programs to create a dream vacation. Your consultant, whether a specialist in cruises, tours or river cruises can help you connect the dots to create a seamless travel experience.

Unless you have a very clear statement, without ambiguity, that the tour or cruise company has a service that guarantees rerouting and/or catch-up accommodation in the case of cancelled or delayed flights, the standard rules of air travel will prevail. What that means is this:

On the day of flight, the airline on whom you are ticketed and the carrier who is actually operating your flight, are in control of your journey. This is called "control of the passenger" and is a very important concept in answering this question. If the airline calls you the day before departure -or- if the airline calls your agent or tour provider and says there is a cancellation, then your consultant, in association with the primary provider(s), will work on getting you to where you need to be if it is possible to do so. This does not mean that the situation is necessarily guaranteed to be fixed. It means that these are the people who are charged with the responsibility of helping to work through the situation. Here are some standards that you should understand and rules that airlines have to follow that might be helpful to know:

In the case of a carrier's mechanical issue, the carrier in control should be taking responsibility for any routing changes required to get you to your destination. The carrier should also offer compensation in the way of meals and hotel vouchers based on the time delay for the next departure on which you are rebooked.

In the case of weather related delays and cancellations, the carrier has very little in the way of obligation. You read this correctly. In all likelihood, the carrier will move heaven and earth to get you on a flight (on its services exclusively) to your destination through a different routing if possible. It is in their interest to do so. But it is important to note that, without much in the way of exception, it is through their policy of passenger care and not through legislation. When the weather prohibits safe operation and your flight is impacted, it is not considered a fault of the carrier and they are not obligated to do much of anything except fly when they can. These situations are never pleasant but it can help to remember that there may be a big difference between what an airline MUST do and what an airline CAN do.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The carrier has no obligation to get you to your cruise ship, to your tour or to your river cruise. Their obligation is only to get you to Brussels, Bangkok or Baltimore. You may still incur expenses in arranging additional transportation to catch up to you tour or cruise. This is an important reason that we suggest leaving a day early and having backup plans so that the unexpected doesn't ruin your vacation or get it off to a dismal start. It's also why we strongly recommend the purchase of travel protection so that some of these expenses and/or losses of vacation experience might be offset by the claim with the travel protection provider.

PLANNING AHEAD: You may hear your consultant encourage you to spend $100 more to fly with a carrier that operates multiple departures from an airport instead of one that only has two flights per day. This is not mentioned to get more money out of you but rather to look ahead to "what happens if�" Your best hope for getting to where you need to be, when you need to be there, is to be traveling on a carrier that has multiple routing options on its own routes or those of its partner carriers (e.g., consider Oneworld, SkyTeam, Star Alliance, etc.) More options usually means more ways to get you to where you need to be with the least amount of upset. Larger carriers may also have in place more "ticketing and baggage agreements" that give them the ability to move you and your baggage easily to another airline if they are unable to get you where you need to be. Some smaller carriers may have limitations in those areas.

Generally the hotels will be the same but it is important to know how this process works for the bulk of our tour travel partners. The hotels are planned 2-3 years in advance and contracts for space allocation and room utilization are worked out. Because both the hotel and the tour operator know that a lot can happen, there is some latitude for things changing. For that reason, most tour operators call for final payment 45-60 days prior to departure. At that time, they begin to release unused inventory and the hotels begin to be finalized. At 30 days prior to departure, the hotels are considered "locked" so that tour documents can be prepared, etc. These are the hotels that will be included in your travel documents and from which you can make contact lists for friends and relatives at home. However, even inside the 30 day countdown to departure, hotels can change due to construction problems, booking system errors, government intervention (such as what happened in Amsterdam during the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne) or any unforeseen circumstances. These are kept to a minimum but they can happen. We usually recommend booking additional hotel nights through the tour company because, if a hotel does have to be changed, the highest likelihood is that the additional hotel nights will also be retained at the new hotel. That is not the case when you as a customer book those nights independently.

We are happy to submit your request / needs to the appropriate travel partner. In some cases, this takes the form of an easily managed request that is standard for the operator. Ocean cruise lines are particularly adept at managing these requests and can manage many different types of requests. River cruise companies are also happy to assist as much as possible and will even allow for a direct discussion with the chef once onboard. Historically, they have had virtually no problem in managing meal choices that satisfy the greatest range of requests. Tour companies have a more difficult time managing these requests because the delivery of food services is in the control of other parties. They are happy to take those requests and forward them to the local Tour Directors who will work with guests and restaurants to reach the best possible accommodation. But it is important to remember that, even in the case of the largest cruise lines, we cannot guarantee dietary needs will be met for each case. We also recommend that you communicate directly with your waiter at each meal about your dietary needs or restrictions.

Travel with pets is essentially not allowed with any of our tour, river cruise or ocean cruise partners. Cunard does offer spaces for 8-12 kennels on trans-Atlantic crossings but that is an exception unique to their cruise offerings. There are also very strict controls with taking pets of any kind on trans-border itineraries and many places still require quarantine. If the pet in question is traveling as a medical assistance animal for hearing, sight or emotional support, we can make requests on a per-case basis. However, outside the US, the rules governing ADA-type accommodation may not exist at all or may exist very differently. For guests who are traveling on independent touring itineraries or using hotel-only services, there may be some accommodation but each component of the program will need to be checked for restrictions and the most restrictive rule would govern the itinerary.

Documents

Download our free vacation "Know Before You Go" travel preparation check list to help you in your preparations for your upcoming adventure. This document will give you a "to do list" of tasks to complete to ensure your trip is a success. Download Here.

We strongly recommend that all guests have a travel protection policy to help ensure peace of mind before and while traveling. It's important that you help protect yourself in case of trip cancellation, interruptions, baggage delays or loss and emergency medical expenses. Check with your travel consultant for details.

To verify coverage through private medical insurance, travelers should inquire directly with their carrier. In general, many medical insurance plans may not cover accidents or illness requiring treatment when traveling out of the US. When coverage is offered, it may be at a lower level than that offered by carriers that specialize in travel-related policies. Travel protection offered by AffordableTours.com includes coverage for medical expenses together with coverage for cancellation penalties in the event of cancellation, travel expenses, accommodation and assistance should it be required. Also note that, with rare exception, Medicare does not cover incidents that occur outside the United States.

Passports are needed when traveling outside your home country. US passport holders are advised that passports should be valid for a minimum of six months beyond the expected return date. Some countries require validity for one year. It is important to check with the consular authority of the countries being visited to be certain if your US passport will be expiring within one year of your planned return date. IMPORTANT: Failure to have sufficient validity may cause you to be denied boarding on your departure from the US.

Visa requirements vary by country and by nationality (as defined by passport) of the passport holder. Each travelers is solely responsible for obtaining all necessary visas prior to the departure of your vacation. Visa issuance timelines (based on days from departure) and validity periods will vary by country and, once initiated, may take up to six weeks for handling and shipping times. It is strongly advised that you consult your local Consulate or Embassy of the countries being visited well in advance to determine which visitors (nationalities) will require visas and how to obtain them. Most of our tour and cruise partners have relationships with visa and passport agencies who can assist with the process. Your travel consultant can provide that information. IMPORTANT: Because we are based in the United States, we can only offer direct support to those customers who are US Passport Holders. AffordableTours.Com and its agents are not authorized to offer guidance on resident aliens or passport holders from other countries. US Passport holders are encouraged to visit the US State Department website for information on entry requirements: http://www.travel.state.gov/.

Documents and other travel resources sent by our tour and river cruise partners are usually made available for shipping or online access at 2-3 weeks prior to the planned tour or cruise start date. Our ocean cruise partners may have documents available online as early as 90 days prior to sailing. A more comprehensive look at travel documents is available in the "General Travel" section of this FAQ.

Although each of our partners makes unique determinations about what to include and provide with travel documentation, there are some standard things to look for, whether in hardcopy form in in an online confirmation or PDF file.

Day by Day itinerary that includes the plans for visits and special attractions each day. Exact departure and arrival times are not provided. Latitude for operational changes makes that difficult to guarantee. Instead, spaces are usually given for the Tour or Cruise Directors to provide the "daily plan" for wake-up, boarding times, etc.

Contact information for the tour operator and emergency contact numbers are generally made available. In some cases, the name and contact details for the planned Tour Director or Cruise Director is also provided. This is especially helpful in the event that a traveler should need to make contact to advice of a delay or other difficulty while on route to the tour or during the tour or cruise.

Flight details are provided if the air services are booked through the tour or cruise line. This will typically include confirmation details for the itinerary, record locator numbers and electronic ticket numbers. If transfer services from the airport are included, the details for where and how to meet tour and cruise representatives will also be included.

NOTE: If the tour or cruise program includes internal flying requirements, it is customary for those tickets to be issued and held by the Tour Director to facilitate both the check-in and boarding process and to manage operational changes more effectively.

If a cruise is included on a land-tour (such as a Greek Island combination tour/cruise), it is customary for the confirmation detail and cabin type to be included but specific cabin numbers may not be provided until boarding. Normally, the cabin assignments are made only when a land-tour includes a cruise component booked with one of the major cruise lines (Princess, Holland America, etc.) This may also be the only time that travelers are given the internal cruise confirmation details.

Hotel listings that can be copied and left with family and friends are normally included. These listings include the hotel names, stay dates and the address and phone numbers.

Tipping guidelines, clothing tips, excursion options are also made available for most programs.

Country information, including local customs, currency (including exchange advice) may also be included.

If there are specific entry requirements (such as reciprocity fees, border visa issuance, etc.), these will be included.

Baggage information is normally included and should be reviewed very carefully. In general, the overwater carrier guidelines may prove to be sufficient for the trip but special attention should be paid for guidance about motor coaches or internal flights. Motor coaches have physical limitations that may be slightly more stringent than the carrier allowances for weight and size. Likewise, many internal country flights operate with lower weight standards for both checked baggage and for carry-on luggage. There are very high fees for exceeding baggage number, size or weight limitations.

Yes. It is a good idea to have your physical documents with you should there be a need for transfer confirmation, vouchers, luggage restrictions, credits, etc. It is also a good idea, if possible, to have a scanned copy in your personal phone, laptop, iPad, etc.

NOTE: Most international (non-US customers) will receive only electronic documentation. When (and if) a physical document is required, your AffordableTours.Com counselor can assist in planning the shipping of hardcopy documents to your address in your home country.

Before You Depart

Download our free vacation "Know Before You Go" travel preparation check list to help you in your preparations for your upcoming adventure. This document will give you a "to do list" of tasks to complete to ensure your trip is a success. Download Here.

We recommend exchanging US dollars into the currency of your first country of arrival prior to departure. In most cases $100-$200 is sufficient to have some "landing currency" to make quick purchases or to assist in case local systems are not immediately available. After that, currency can be exchanged at airports, currency exchanges hotel desks or banks. International debit and credit cards are accepted at most bank machines (ATMs) throughout the world and these do, in general, offer the most attractive exchange rates. It is a good idea to check with your bank prior to your departure to be sure that your cards operate in the destinations in which you are traveling. This is also an opportunity to check for any additional foreign transaction fees. Sometimes these fees can be waived just by asking your bank or other provider. We do not recommend carrying large amounts of cash since it is non-recoverable in case of loss or theft. Also, be aware that traveler's checks may be difficult to exchange and tend to have a higher fee for exchange.

If there are mobility issues, the tour or cruise provider should be able to offer advice on both the accessibility aspects of the ships or motor coaches and the general rules of acceptance for people with mobility issues. Typically a medical evaluation or fitness form may be required if a wheelchair is to be brought on a land tour. River cruise ships may have no elevator or only elevators between certain floors. Carefully checking the ship's facilities can eliminate surprises. For ocean cruises, there is generally no problem but it is wise to learn about accessible cabins, when available, as well as door widths and sill height in both accessible and non-accessible cabins. Generally, only the manual portable wheelchairs can be brought for river cruise or land tour programs. There is no accommodation for motorized chairs or "scooters". Check with your travel consultant to determine limitations and confirm the planned provider and itinerary is a match for your requirements.

The clothing you choose to bring will depend on not only your personal preference, but the destinations you are visiting and the time of year you will be traveling. It is advisable to bring at least one �smart' outfit for special evenings or Highlight Dinners. If your itinerary visits churches or places of worship, you may be required to wear items that cover your shoulders and in some cases, knees. When traveling we recommend bringing items that are casual and lightweight, and require little or no ironing. When seasonal travel might affect your packing plans, you might visit http://www.weatherbase.com to gain some insight into the norms for temperature and precipitation in the areas you'll be visiting. More information concerning dress codes is also available in the "General Questions" section of this FAQ.

Yes, this is possible. If you're on a direct US-bound flight, you may already be aware that your mobile phone and other electronic devices will be screened during the security examination. But from July 2014 forward, an enhanced security measure has been implemented that may require you to switch on your electronic device(s). Powerless devices will not be permitted on board the aircraft and, in these instances, you may undergo additional screening. We therefore recommend that all devices are charged before they're packed.

Baggage information is normally included with tour documents or made available in the providers' Terms & Conditions. This information should be reviewed very carefully. In general, the overwater carrier guidelines may prove to be sufficient for the trip but special attention should be paid for guidance about motor coaches or internal flights. Motor coaches have physical limitations that may be slightly more stringent than the carrier allowances for weight and size. Likewise, many internal country flights operate with lower weight standards for both checked baggage and for carry-on luggage. There are very high fees for exceeding baggage number, size or weight limitations.